Kim Jae-kyung Expands Her Acting Career with First Japanese Drama 'DREAM STAGE'

Kim Jae-kyung, leader of the group Rainbow and actress, who married a non-celebrity in 2024, is expanding her filmography with her first Japanese drama.

The TBS Friday drama 'DREAM STAGE' tells the story of a former genius producer who was once expelled from the industry and seven dropout trainees from a small Korean entertainment agency, who come together across generations and nationalities to pursue their dreams. Kim Jae-kyung plays the role of 'Park Ji-soo', a producer who discovers the rival group 'TORINNER' of 'NAZE', bringing a captivating character to life.

Kim Jae-kyung's character 'Park Ji-soo' is a charismatic producer leading 'TORINNER', leaving a strong impression from her first appearance. With lines like "The world won't settle for this level" and "I will conquer the world with this group," she clearly demonstrates her ambition to reach the top.

Amidst the thrilling competition between the two groups, Ji-soo is shown working passionately at 'Bouquet Music', a major music agency led by Choi Ki-yong (Lee Yi-kyung). However, despite achieving her goals, she becomes increasingly exhausted by the relentless pressure, leading to a dramatic turning point in episode 6 when she approaches Nam Ha-yoon (Ha Yeon-soo) to ask for a position at the company. This decision raises curiosity about the impact of Ji-soo's choice on future developments, heightening anticipation for the next episodes.

Kim Jae-kyung showcases her charismatic presence with an overwhelming aura and sharp gaze, while also delicately portraying the character's inner turmoil and subtle fear of Ki-yong. Despite it being her first Japanese drama, she enhances the immersion of the series with her fluent Japanese skills. Her chemistry with various characters, from the witty banter with Ha-yoon to the tense standoff with Azuma Jun (Nakamura Tomoya), adds to the drama's appeal.

Through 'DREAM STAGE', Kim Jae-kyung once again proves her wide acting spectrum. Her outstanding portrayal of the character raises expectations for her future performances in the remaining episodes.

'DREAM STAGE' airs on Japan's cultural channel Channel J every Saturday at 11 PM and on tvN every Tuesday at 12:15 AM, and is also available on TVING.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr